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Tuesday, August 11, 2009

An Excellent Read

Hey there, everyone! So in Sunday's post I mistakenly wrote that Liz Jensen's "debut" The Rapture would be hitting shelves this week. It is coming out (today, actually), but it's not her debut. My mistake. She actually has quite a few books out, but I'd never come across her until now.

I read most of The Rapture today and was taken for a serious roller coaster ride. First off, it's one of those books that bridges a few genres: it's part psychological suspense, part thriller, part eco-thriller in a way, and ends on a totally apocalyptic note (love it!).

The story begins with Gabrielle Fox, an art therapist who's survived a terrible car accident that we eventually learn has left her paralyzed and has taken the life of her lover. Gabrielle has suffered emotionally as well as physically and many of her superiors do not feel that she should have returned to work as soon as she did. To make an easier transition, she takes a temporary post at an asylum for adolescents. Here she meets Bethany Krall, a 16-year-old who stabbed her mother to death. Bethany's course of treatment involves electrotherapy, which brings about another symptom in Bethany's illness: delusions she believes are predictions of disasters around the world. But Gabrielle is shocked to find that Bethany's predictions are quite accurate. But who can Gabrielle trust with her discovery and how can she prepare for what is to come?

This is a dark read with a very well thought out plot. It's also a smart and timely thriller that I think will appeal to a large group of readers: I see fans of literary as well as popular thrillers both enjoying this one (and especially readers who like a mix of both already). I think it's going to be a quiet one that definitely deserves a lot of attention.

Ok. Sorry this was such a late. I'm beat and heading to bed! Hope this post still makes sense to me in the morning. Seriously, though, check out The Rapture, you won't regret it -- but it will keep you up at night!

3 comments:

Why am I always intrigued when I read "apocalyptic"? Is that weird? I think the book sounds fabulous and as always with your reviews, now I want to have this book. If my library won't carry it I will have to buy it :D I swear Becky, you cause me to spend more money on books than anyone else! LOL :D